You all know that when I say “third day,” I’m only referring to my own crawl, right? The event’s been going on all throughout April!
My third day was Saturday, the 18th, and I drove the West chunk of the list. Allison joined me for the first two stops, but she had a scheduling conflict in the afternoon, so I was on my own for the rest. That was probably for the best. She got to miss out on the absolutely atrocious weather. It was a much longer day than it should have been, really.
A longer day, but still a good one! Here’s the route:
- Becker’s Books
- Blue Willow Bookshop
- Houston Book Warehouse
- Katy Budget Books
- Mockingbird Books
- LIT Bookbar
The range of vibes and aesthetics I’ve encountered on the crawl has been awesome – and I mean that in the classical sense. I’m in awe. Becker’s is a maze of wonderful old books that’s easy to get lost in. Blue Willow is cozy and charming. Houston Book Warehouse has a ceiling that I think is like, 50 feet up or something. Maybe not that much, but it’s a lot. And you might think the place would feel like a warehouse (hence the name), but I found it to be quite lovely! A lot of thought has gone into all these indie bookstores, and you can really see that the booksellers care about their shops and their customers.
Let’s have a look at the haul, from left to right.
The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne has been on my radar for a few years now. An unfortunate truth of loving books is that there are far too many to read. Gwynne’s Bloodsworn Saga hasn’t been on my list for as long as, say, the Malazan Book of the Fallen series – which I’ll get to in a minute – but still. Its reputation precedes it. This one came from Mockingbird Books in Katy.
Votan and Other Novels by John James is next, the first of several books I picked up from Katy Budget Books. I’ve heard quite a lot about Votan and Not For All the Gold in Ireland, and if what I’ve heard is correct, this will be an extraordinary read.
Next are two Dragonlance novels, one of which I just bought last week! That’ll teach me to put off updating my collection list. Vinas Solamnus is my repeat, but Fistandantilus Reborn is quite a nice pickup. That one’s more difficult to find in the wild. Both of these came from Katy Budget Books.
Then we have a pair of Zelazny novels from Becker’s Books. Classic sci-fi from a master, Eye of Cat (1982) and This Immortal (Hugo Award winner, 1966). Becker’s is a deceptively large store, so plan for some extra time when you visit.
I grabbed some more classic sci-fi from Houston Book Warehouse, with three Perry Rhodan books, Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind, and Well of Darkness by Weis & Hickman.
Next is a Star Wars novel, Showdown at Centerpoint. I’m working on buying back my childhood, so to speak. I’m on the lookout for quite a lot of Star Wars books from the 90s. Skip ahead in the image to The Hand of Chaos and Triumph of the Darksword, both by Weis & Hickman. All three of these came from Katy Budget Books.
I’ve been on the lookout for Gardens of the Moon, the first volume of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, and grabbed a copy at LIT Bookbar, an amazing little shop everyone should take the time to visit. Granted, I’d say that about everyone on the crawl, but LIT Bookbar has a vibe that nobody else matches, and you have to experience it.
Finally, there’s the third Dungeon Crawler Carl book, The Butcher’s Masquerade. I’ve already read the whole series, but I don’t yet own all the Ace hardcovers, so I’m happy to pick up another on my crawl stops. This came from Blue Willow Bookshop, where I learned that there are rumors of a science fiction & fantasy bookstore opening in the League City area. Quelle surprise!
I’ll be taking some time during the week to visit Then & Now in Galveston and then heading up to the La Porte area to visit Books by the Bay. Next weekend will be my final crawl day, as we head out on Sunday to hit the shops on the South route and hopefully catch up with the bookmobiles.
Enjoy the crawl, everyone!
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